Going Bovine

Title: Going Bovine

Author: Libba Bray

Published: Sep 2009

Pages: 480

Price: $17.99

Reading Level: 5th grade

Interest Level: 9th-12th grade

Awards: Michael L. Printz Award, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, Booklist Editor's Choice

Genre: fantasy, humor

Plot Summary:16 year old Cameron is a self declared slacker who is happy just skating by in life and school. But it turns out his life is going to much shorter than he expect. It turns out that he has contracted mad cow disease and is going to die, which he isn't too thrilled to find out. I mean who dies of mad cow disease? The doctor tells him the disease will slowly attack his brain and he will go crazy and then die, not the best outlook. But then a combat wearing punk angel Dulcie shows up at the hospital and tells Cameron that he can save himself and the world by finding Dr. X. So Cameron and his video game loving dwarf friend Bonzo set off on an adventure across the country to save the world. During their travels they pick up a talking yard gnome and hilarity ensues. This is like no road trip, quest you've ever seen. But one begins to wonder if Cameron's crazy journey is just hallucination induced by his illness or if he really is on a road trip to save the world.

Critical Review: The plot is absurd and filled with strange and quirky characters and absolutely insane scenarios, but Libba Bray has a way of making it work. It's an epic road trip/quest story with sarcasm, wit and a bit of magical fantasy thrown in. Though the book is also slightly dark as Cameron faces his death. The reader starts to realize that his hilarious adventure might not be more than just Cameron's very sick brain hallucinating as the mad cow disease takes over. Cameron goes through a sort of coming of age growth as he nears his death. It really adds to the complexity of the book that without would just make the story too silly, too out of control. The reality of Cameron dying allows for the story to have more impact on the reader. Only Libba Bray could write something so tragic that seem lighthearted and fun till the end.

Reader's Annotation: Cameron just found out he is dying of mad cow disease. Which he didn't even think was possible. But then a crazy angel shows up and convinces him to save the world and possibly himself.

Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: Cameron goes through a great deal of growth through the book. He starts his quest as a complete slacker who never does anything to someone who is out to save the world. While teens won't have such epic adventures it does show that you can change your life and that you don't need to sit on the sidelines of life. Teens will also be able to contemplate death and what it means when you are very young and facing your own death.

Book Talk Ideas: A book talk can't go wrong with a talking yard gnome, which would make for a great hook in the book talk. Maybe even see about bringing a yard gnome as prop. Ask what does a yard gnome, video games and mad cow disease all have to do with saving the world? Ask Cameron.

Issues: There some foul language in the story including a lot of the word fuck and shit. There is also the issue of Cameron dying which might be seen as too mature. Cameron also has sex, with an angel who wears combat boots and has pink hair. Not exactly what most people think of when it comes to angels.

Main themes: death, coming of age, friendship, love, quests, road trips

Read Alikes: The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

Author Website: http://libbabray.com/

Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly

Why include this book? This book is a unique take on the road trip novel. Libba Bray has an amazing wit and humour in her writing. It's also a book that will have great appeal to male readers because of it's male protagonist, sarcasm and video game loving character.